Pride and Prejudice - Chapter 15
Elizabeth could hardly believe what she was hearing. Darcy was proposing to her? After he had shown such disdain for her family, after he had separated Jane and Bingley, after he had ruined Wickham's life?
She looked at him in amazement. "In such cases as this," she said, "it is customary to express gratitude. But I feel no gratitude. I have never desired your good opinion, and you have certainly given me none."
Darcy was stunned. "I am sorry if I have offended you," he said stiffly. "But I cannot understand why you are so angry."
"Why did you separate Jane and Bingley?" Elizabeth demanded. "Why did you ruin Wickham? Do you think I could marry a man who has done such things?"
Darcy's face darkened. "I admit that I separated Bingley from your sister," he said. "I believed she did not care for him, and I did not want him to make an imprudent marriage."
"But she did care for him!" Elizabeth cried. "You destroyed her happiness!"
"And as for Wickham," Darcy continued, "I did not ruin his life. He tried to marry my sister for her fortune, and I prevented him. He is a gambler and a liar, Miss Bennet, and you should not believe his stories."
Elizabeth was shocked by this revelation. Was it possible that Wickham had lied to her?
"And your family," Darcy said, "your mother's behaviour, your younger sisters' silliness—I could not marry you and subject myself to such connections."
Elizabeth was furious. "You have insulted me and my family," she said. "You have shown no regard for my feelings. Do you think I could ever care for a man like you?"
"No," Darcy said quietly. "I understand now."
He turned and left the room, leaving Elizabeth alone with her anger and confusion.
Over the next few days, Elizabeth struggled with her feelings. She was angry at Darcy for his pride and his interference, but she could not stop thinking about his proposal.
Why had he proposed to her when he clearly disliked her family? What had he meant when he said he had struggled to deny his feelings?
And what about Wickham? Had Darcy told the truth about him? Or had Wickham deceived her?
She did not know what to believe anymore.